Heel-grip.



M. H. BURKE.

HEEL GRIP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY :0. 1914.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

ED STATE PA ENT FHTQE.

HEEL-GRIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

Application filed July 10, 1914. Serial No. 850,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, llIICIIAEL H. BURKE, a citizen of the United States. residing in the city and county of Denver and State 6f Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel- Grips, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in heel grips designed more particularly to hold a low s'hoe, pump or slipper on at the heel, and prevent the same either from slipping off, 01' turning, or rubbing the wearers heel.

Much ditliculty has been encountered, and

in fact hitherto it has been found almost impossible in shoes of this character, now more popular than ever either for general use or for dancing-particularly womens shoesto keep the heel of the shoe from sliding up anddown, or the shoe from coming entirely off the foot, due to the absence of any means of secure hold it has upon the heel. It is the purpose of my present invention to obviate these difliculties, and incidentally the prevention of the slipping of the shoe results in protection both to the shoe-lining and the stocking. 7 With these objects in view, this invention consists in a detachable rubber lining of special form having a roughened gripping surface on one side, and an adhesive substance on the other to facilitate fastenin it in place in the heel of the shoe; and it 11rther consists in certain other details which will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claim."

In the I accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a view, of my improved grip, Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with a portion broken out at'the heel; and Fig. 3 is a view in perspective looking into the heel.

My improved grip is shaped to fit over the narrow part of the heel, which does not ordinarily come in contact with the shoe, thus filling in the space between said narrow part of the heel and the counter. Thisgrip is preferably made in the form of two wings a, a, and a. comparatively narrow connecting center 6 with the edges curved as shown,

and the lower curves 0, c, of the wings extended so that in the application of the device to the heel of the shoe or slipper,,they come within about a quarter of an inch of the sole, as indicated in Fig. 3, thus bringing the narrow connecting portion 7) just across the heel, where the latter begins to recede toward the ankle at the lower end of the tendon. This narrow center thus rests or bridges over the inwardly or forwardlysloping part of the heel. The wings a, (z, are thus thrown into the narrow or hollow part of the heel on either side of the tendon, not only affording a larger and rougher surface for gripping the hose where needed and constituting a filler, but also giving additional thickness of material where there is ordinarily space between the foot and the shoe. 7 Thecentral portion b being narrow afi'ords some holding or gripping function of the heel at the point indicated, although it is not sutliciently wide to cause possible discomfort at the point where the heel and counter of the shoe are most closely in contact.

The back of the grip is covered with an adhesive paste or preparation, which, when moistened, causes it to. adhere to the shoe- .lining, covering the counter as shown in Fig. 3.

The. surface of the rubber may vary to suit the taste. For instance, it may be in the form of a so-called basket-weave or i n pyra-- midal prmections, it being desirable merely that it afford the required grip. This grip has proven most effective for the purpose for which it is designed; it can be applied to any shoe by thewearer, thus avoiding the necessity of a skilled shoemaker; and it can be manufactured at a comparatively small initial cost.

It is also worthy of mention that I do not intend to confine myself to rubber, as it is i obvious that other substances or a composition material having similar characteristics to rubber fabric could be used and serve the same purpose.

I claim As an article of manufacture, a heel-grip comprising a narrow neck and two Wings In testimony whereof I affix my signature, which are enlarged to extend above the up- 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

er ed e and below the lower ed e res ecr fively 5f the neck, the outer surfa ie bar ing MICHAEL BURhE adhesive 'material to hold the grip in the Witnesses: shoe and the other surface roughened to GEORGE L. Honens, cause it to take a grip upon the foot. D. EDGAR WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

" Washington, 1?. G. 

